10 Lessons for Surviving the Tech Industry

Over the course of a career, you'll have to make critical decisions about jobs, managers, salaries, technical vs. business focus, and career paths. These 10 tips can help to make better decisions. 

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10 Lessons for Surviving the Tech Industry

1. Early in your career, get a certification, and work on something mainstream. Give yourself some foundations to build upon. 
2. Early in your career, it’s OK to take risks on companies, if you are able to get a lot of experience (either breadth or depth).
3. Most people in tech don’t have a huge cash-out (IPO, Acquisition, etc.), but if you do, bank it to give yourself options (future savings, job hopping, change of career, etc.)
4. Have a side hustle. Have a mix of business and technical skills.
5. Always be learning something new. Being able to learn new stuff is the skill. 
6. Find a community of people (online or live) that can be mentors, sounding boards, or just “trusted” people. 
7. Find managers that support you, encourage you, and promote you. Sometimes ride with them on the next journey.
8. Title, salary, job scope or location…..you can only pick 2 (maybe 3Most people leave bad managers, not the company. 
9. Work/Life balance is really hard to find. There’s no right answer, it’ll come and go in waves. Ride waves when they come, because they don’t always come back. 
10. Work on your communication skills. 

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